Stop fighting your
ITIL process.
HelpSpot gives you the power and control you expect without the enterprise bloat, complex modules, or hidden add-on fees.
Why teams switch from ManageEngine
The same frustrations we hear from every ServiceDesk Plus switcher
ITIL Complexity
ServiceDesk Plus is built for rigid ITIL compliance (Change, Problems, Projects). It forces complex workflows on teams that just want to solve customer requests.
Streamlined Support
HelpSpot removes the noise. No mandatory ITIL modules or rigid frameworks—just the flexible tools you need to help customers fast.
The Add-on Trap
The base price looks low, but essential features like the Service Catalog ($1,595/yr), Live Chat, and Asset Management often require expensive upgrades or add-ons.
All-in Pricing
HelpSpot includes everything: Asset Management, unlimited Custom Forms, and Reporting are standard in one simple price.
Outdated Interface
ManageEngine's interface is often criticized for being clunky and form-heavy, requiring too many clicks to perform simple actions like closing a ticket.
Fast & Modern
HelpSpot is designed for speed. A clean, modern interface with keyboard shortcuts helps your team fly through their queue.
ManageEngine vs HelpSpot
See how the two platforms compare on what matters most
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The $1,595 Form Tax
Need custom request forms? That requires the 'Service Catalog' add-on, which costs an extra $1,595 per year on Standard/Professional plans.
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Support fees apply
24/7 support is gated behind a 'Premium Support' fee (approx +20%). Standard support is limited to business hours and offers slower response times.
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Paid implementation
ManageEngine is complex to configure. Professional implementation services are often required to get started, costing thousands upfront.
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Storage limits
Cloud plans come with database and attachment storage caps, forcing you to pay more or delete data as your history grows.
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Unlimited forms included
Create unlimited custom forms and portal pages for your customers. We don't charge you extra to collect the structured data you need.
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Premium support included
Every customer gets our best support. No tiers, no 'premium' fees, just fast answers from our US-based experts.
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White glove onboarding
We help you migrate, configure your account, and train your team—for free. We invest in your success from day one.
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Unlimited history
Keep every ticket and attachment forever. We never charge for storage, so your data is always available for reporting and context.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Comparing ManageEngine SDP Professional vs HelpSpot
HelpSpot
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ManageEngine
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Feature | All Inclusive | Professional $27/tech/mo |
|
Core Ticketing
|
||
| Familiar email-inspired workflow | ||
| Email-to-ticket conversion | ||
| Collision detection | ||
| Custom fields | ||
| Conditional field logic | Enterprise Only | |
| Rich customer replies (images, files, emoji) | ||
| Unlimited mailboxes | ||
|
Portal & Knowledge Base
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||
| Customer portal | ||
| Contact form | ||
| Portal theme customization | Limited (HTML) | |
| Service Catalog (Custom Forms) | $1,595/yr Add-on | |
| Knowledge base | ||
| Knowledge base WYSIWYG | ||
|
Automation & Workflow
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||
| Trigger rules | ||
| Time based automation rules | ||
| Round-robin assignment | ||
| SLA management | ||
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AI Features
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||
| AI writing assistance | Included | Included (Zia) |
| AI ticket summarization | Included | Included (Zia) |
| AI translation | Included | Included (Zia) |
| Intelligent triage | Included | Included (Zia) |
|
Reporting & Analytics
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| Built-in reports | ||
| Custom report builder | ||
| Real-time dashboards | ||
| Scheduled report exports | ||
| Export to Excel/CSV | ||
| Direct SQL database access | Self-hosted | On-Prem Only |
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Pricing Model
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| Feature tiers | 1 tier | 3 tiers + add-ons |
| Add-on costs | None | Catalog, Chat, etc. |
| Unlimited tickets | ||
| Cancel anytime | No (Annual Contract) | |
| Refund policy | 45 days | |
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Support & Deployment
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| Phone support | All plans | Premium Fee |
| Self-hosted option | ||
| EU data residency | Included | Included |
| Access logs and redaction | Enterprise Only | |
| Data & attachment storage | Unlimited | Capped |
| Implementation help | Free | Paid |
| API access | Unlimited | Rate Limited |
Ready to simplify your support?
The add-on trap exposed
ManageEngine's base price looks reasonable until you add the Service Catalog, implementation, and other essentials. Here's what a real team actually pays.
ManageEngine
Professional Cloud with common add-ons
Includes Service Catalog add-on and implementation
HelpSpot
Simple pricing, everything included
Save over $5,800 in year one
Migration made easy
We'll help you every step of the way
Export Your Data
Use ManageEngine's export tools to download your tickets in CSV/XLS format.
Import to HelpSpot
Our team works with you to map and import your historical data and get everything configured.
Go Live
Connect your email accounts to HelpSpot. Your team picks up right where they left off.
Deploy Your Way
Same price, same features. Choose the deployment that works for you.
Same powerful features and pricing across all hosting options.
US Cloud
CloudUS-East Region
Dedicated AWS infrastructure with 99.9% uptime. Managed updates and automated backups.
EU Cloud
CloudFrankfurt Region
GDPR-compliant hosting. Full data sovereignty with all information isolated within the EU.
Self-Hosted
EnterpriseOn-Premise Infrastructure
Complete control on your own hardware. Ideal for air-gapped networks or strict compliance.
Maximum Control & Data ResidencyWhat we believe
We've been building help desk software since 2005. Along the way, we've developed strong opinions about how support should work.
Single Assignment
Every ticket has one owner. Clear accountability means faster resolution and better outcomes.
Read moreHuman-First Support
Support is human-to-human communication. Technology should enhance it, not replace it.
Read moreSimple Pricing
One price. All features. No add-ons, no surprises. Budget with confidence.
Read moreBeyond Shared Mailbox
Email chaos ends here. Get collision detection, automation, and the visibility you need.
Read moreCompare other platforms
See how HelpSpot stacks up against other help desk solutions.
"Of the number of helpdesk systems we looked into, ranging from the off-the-shelf expensive systems to completely 'free', your product was the best looking, simplest for both the customer and the staff, the quickest to set-up and configure and reasonably priced."
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about switching from ManageEngine
Yes. HelpSpot includes a flexible built-in asset management tool that allows you to track hardware, software, and other items directly within tickets. Unlike ManageEngine, we don't force you to upgrade to a 'Professional' or 'Enterprise' plan just to access this feature.
No. HelpSpot is designed to be intuitive and follows a standard email-like workflow. While ManageEngine often requires ITIL knowledge to navigate modules like 'Problem' and 'Change' management, HelpSpot can be used by anyone with minimal training.
Yes. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus allows for data export (CSV/XLS), and our team can help you map that data into HelpSpot. Since we provide free onboarding, we'll assist you in planning the migration of your ticket history and user data.
Yes! Like ManageEngine, we offer a fully Self-Hosted (On-Premise) version for customers who need complete data control. However, our self-hosted version includes the exact same features as our cloud version, without complex licensing tiers.
HelpSpot is the best ManageEngine alternative for teams that need a straightforward help desk without ITSM complexity. ManageEngine's ITIL-heavy modules, add-on pricing, and steep learning curve are overkill for most support teams. HelpSpot includes ticket management, automation, custom reporting, AI, and SLA tracking in one plan. It deploys in hours and requires no ITIL training.
ManageEngine prices by edition (Standard, Professional, Enterprise), technician count, and add-on modules. Standard starts around $10/tech/month but lacks ITIL features. Professional costs ~$21/tech/month and Enterprise ~$50/tech/month. Additional assets, nodes, and modules carry separate fees. HelpSpot uses flat annual pricing with all features included.
For small IT teams focused on ticket management, it can be. Its ITIL-aligned modules (Problem, Change, Release management) require configuration and training that small teams rarely need. HelpSpot provides a streamlined help desk focused on tickets, automation, and reporting without ITSM overhead, and deploys in hours rather than weeks.
Trusted by teams who made the switch
Trusted by industry leaders
Ready to switch?
We'll help you move.
Start your free trial and our team will help migrate your data, train your agents, and get you up and running. No risk, no commitment.
